Radiculopathy & sciatica Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability, and consider whether referral for extra-schedular consideration is warranted.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, including the one regarding service connection for a sinus disability. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to decide these matters.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity associated with cervical spine disability have been granted, effective August 31, 2012.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of right leg radiculopathy and thus service connection cannot be established.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected PTSD, which prevents him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent. The claims for increased ratings were denied.,TDIU was also denied due to incarceration in connection with a felony conviction.

The Board has determined that it is not factually ascertainable prior to January 4, 2008, that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone rendered him unable to work and thus an effective date earlier than January 4, 2008 for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability on an extraschedular basis cannot be assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, rhabdomyolysis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's sciatic nerve involvement of the right lower extremity is currently rated as 20 percent disabling since February 9, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO. The initial ratings and increased rating claims are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected left tibia and fibula fracture did not result in any compensable limitation of motion or impairment, as he underwent below the knee amputation due to peripheral artery disease.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy or hypertension related to service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that new and material evidence has not been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional efforts to notify the Veteran of his requested Travel Board hearing at his previous home addresses.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of her service-connected disabilities on her ability to locomote.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral radiculopathy and neuropathy of the lower extremities, both secondary to his service-connected fibromyositis of the lumbar paravertebral muscles.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew the issues of entitlement to service connection for atrial fibrillation, subacute peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity, and entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left distal radius fracture, status post reduction, with degenerative changes.

The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability. The claim for increased rating of the left foot disability (hallux rigidus with plantar fasciitis) is also granted.